Cable conveyor

ABSTRACT

A cable conveyor having a series of removably mounted top plates that are snapped over spheres rigidly fastened to the cable. The top plate edges are tapered to allow the conveyor to travel around corners without having the adjacent top plates interfere with each other. Also disclosed is a new sprocket wheel for the cable conveyor having a peripheral groove formed around the sprocket wheel to define a circular path for the cable to travel thereby eliminating chordal action on the cable.

Unite States Resener Feb.22,1972

{54] CABLE CONVEYOR [72] lnventor: Baird E. Resener, Indianapolis, Ind.

[73] Assignee: Amsted Industries Incorporated, Chicago,

[22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 879,348

[52] US. Cl... ..198/l89 [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 17/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..l98/189,181,182, 168

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,883,007 10/1932 Sheel 198/181 3,344,905 10/1967 Von l-lofer ..198/189 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 759,666 2/1934 France ..198/l89 1,155,807 5/1958 France ..19 8/189 Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts Att0rney-Walter L. Schlegel, Jr. and Norvell E. Von Behren [5 7] ABSTRACT A cable conveyor having a series of removably mounted top plates that are snapped over spheres rigidly fastened to the cable. The top plate edges are tapered to allow the conveyor to travel around corners without having the adjacent top plates interfere with each other. Also disclosed is a new sprocket wheel for the cable conveyor having a peripheral groove formed around the sprocket wheel to define a circular path for the cable to travel thereby eliminating chordal action on the cable.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures CABLE CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to conveyors and in particular to a new and novel cable conveyor for material handling.

In the packaging industry the use of conveyors to handle items such as cans, bottles, jars, boxes, cartons, etc., is well known with a typical installation consisting ofa standard roller chain having a plurality of top plates that are positioned over pins extending from the chain or under the edges of the link plates making up the roller chainv Also commonly used, are conveyors consisting of a plurality of metal or plastic top plates pivotably joined by intermeshing integral knuckles and pivot pins.

Conveyor chains of these types are often noisy and require period maintenance and lubrication due to the large number of load bearing joints in the chain. In addition, the hinge type of chain is relatively heavy and limited to slower speeds than the roller type of chain which is somewhat lighter and is capable of higher speeds. Difficulties are also encountered in using conveyors such as these in traveling left or right relative to the original axis of travel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the problems and difficulties encountered in prior art conveyor chains by providing a new and novel chain conveyor comprising a series of top plates that are snapped over a plurality of rigid spheres permanently swaged to a driving cable and held in place by a plurality of resilient fingers formed on the bottom of the top plate. The resilient fingers form a universal ball joint with the swaged spheres which permits movement of the top plates in several directions relative to the spheres. A new and novel sprocket wheel serves to drive the cable and contains a peripheral groove formed in the outer edge thereof to define a circular path between the sprocket teeth which eliminates harmful chordal action on the cable.

Coupled with the universal ball joint before mentioned is a taper on the leading or trailing edge of the top plate which permits the top plates to travel in several directions thereby providing a cable conveyor of greater flexibility.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and novel conveyor having a plurality of removable top plates that may be easily snapped in place on the cable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel drive sprocket wheel for a cable conveyor which eliminates chordal action on the cable as it passes around the sprocket wheel thereby reducing longitudinal surging in the span oflong conveyors.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel cable conveyor that is lightweight and requires little or no lubrication of the conveyors component parts for operatron.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel top plate for a cable conveyor which is molded in a one piece construction with resilient means formed thereon for removably mounting the top plate on the cable.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent after studying the attached drawings and reading the accompanying description of preferred embodiment which is given by way ofillustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side view of a portion of the cable conveyor showing it traveling around the drive sprocket of the inventlon;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the top plates of the invention shown mounted on the cable;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the top plates of the invention showing the means for removably mounting the top plates on a plurality of rigid spheres;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of two top plates fastened to the cable;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom view ofthe top plates shown in F IG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view, partially in a section, of the top plate of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the chain sprocket wheel taken along line 77 of FIG. I and shows the peripheral groove formed in the sprocket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in general and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown the new and novel cable conveyor l0 of the invention which comprises a plurality of top plates 2 removably mounted on an endless cable I4 which is formed by rigidly fastening together, the ends of a predetermined length of cable.

The conveyor is driven by a toothed driving sprocket wheel 16 having a plurality of teeth 18 formed axially around the periphery thereof. The sprocket wheel 16 also has formed in the central portion of each tooth 18, as shown in FIG. 7, a cable-receiving groove 20 formed around the periphery of the sprocket wheel 16. The cable-receiving groove 20 serves to receive the cable 14 and to define a circular path for the cable 14 to travel during operation of the conveyor 10, thereby eliminating harmful bending and chordal action on the cable since the cable will describe a circle and not a polygon when going around the sprocket wheel 16.

Referring-now to FIG. 2 and 3 of the drawings the-re is shown enlarged perspective views of the top plates 2 comprising a top surface 22 and a bottom surface 24. The top plates 12 also have a plurality ofleading edges 26 and a trailing edge 28 formed thereon with at least one of said edges being tapered to permit the conveyor 10 to travel left or right relative to the original axis of travel without the leading and trailing edges of adjacent plates touching each other and interfering with the operation of the conveyor 10. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 both of the leading edges 26 ofthe top plates 12 are shown with a taper which would allow this conveyor to operate both left and right relative to its original direction.

The cable 14 has rigidly attached thereto a plurality of rigid spheres 30 at a predetermined integral number of even intervals along its length by means of swaging or some other similar fastening means to provide accurate and permanent centers for positioning the top plates 12. The cable 14 may be formed of stranded wire of stainless steel or carbon steel depending upon the service application of the conveyor 10 and the spheres 30 may be also made ofa metal such as stainless steel, carbon steel, bronze, or a porous powdered steel. When the cable 14 is formed of stainless steel or carbon steel, it is clear that a metallic corrosion resistant covering such as a galvanized or an organic coating such as plastic may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, the cable 14 may also be formed of manila rope or plastic depending upon the service application of the conveyor.

Formed on the bottom surface 24 of the top plates 12 are means for removably mounting the top plates 12 to the spheres 30. In the embodiment shown the means comprise a pair of bosses in the form of cylindrical portions 32 formed at one of the edges i.e., at the leading edge or the trailing edge, of the top plate 12 and are adapted to partially surround and receive one of the spheres 30 by means of the spherical surface 34 formed on the interior ends of the cylindrical portions 32. The ends 35 of the cylindrical portions 32 are beveled to produce a dovetail which can engage in a mating track to guide the cable conveyor around a corner sideways without tipping.

Formed between the pair of cylindrical portions 32 is a slot 36, best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, somewhat larger in width than the diameter of the cable 14 for receiving the cable. Also formed on the bottom surface 24, opposite the cylindrical portions 32, adjacent the other transverse edge of the plate, are a plurality of downwardly extending resilient fingers 38 which are adapted to snap over and partially under and to partially surround the next succeeding sphere 30 thereby removably mounting the top plates 12 to the spheres 30. The fingers 38 contain a spherical surface 40 formed on the interior portions of the fingers for receiving the spheres 30 in the aforesaid manner. In 1 addition, the fingers 38 are spaced laterally apart from each other to form a slot 42 somewhat larger in width than the diameter of the cable 14 for receiving the cable. The bottom surface 24 also contains a slot 37 somewhat larger than the cable 14 and running between the slots 36 and 42. Because of the resiliency provided by the slots 36, 37 and 42, the entire top plate can be flexed or bent backwards to cause the resilient fingers 38 to spread and snap over the spheres 30 and into engagement therewith.

When the cylindrical portions 32 and the fingers 38 are thusly constructed, they form a plurality of universal ball joints with the spheres 30 thereby permitting movement ofthe top plates 12 on several axes relative to the spheres thereby allowing the conveyor to travel upward or downward as required in operation as well as sideways. The top plates also have beveled edges 44 on the leading edges 26 and the trailing edges 28 with the leading edge bevel reducing the possibility of the leading edge catching under a bottle or can and upsetting it. The trailing edge bevel is for appearance purposes and fills the gap left by the succeeding leading edge.

The top plates 12 as well as the cylindrical portions 32 and the fingers 38 may be molded from plastic for lighter weight and when formed thusly could be used for example in the packaging industry to handle such items as cans, bottles, etc., which are being filled with cold materials. When the materials being filled are hot, then the top plate 12 would, of necessity, have to be made of some other material capable of resisting the heat.

When the top plate 12 and cylindrical portions 32 and fingers 38 are formed from molded plastic and the cable 14 and spheres are formed of stainless steel, then little or no lubrication is necessary for operation of the cable conveyor and the unit would operate quietly compared to prior art conveyors chains because of the sound damping characteristics of the plastic.

A pair of side rails 46 shown in FIG. 6 are necessary at the outer side portions of the bottom surface 24 to support the load or to keep the top plate from twisting around the cable 14 at the balljoints.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a new and novel cable conveyor has been provided which accomplishes all of the objects and advantages of the invention. Nevertheless, it is apparent that many changes in details of construction or arrangement of the parts of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims and the invention is not to be limited to the exact matters shown and described since only the preferred embodiments have been given by way ofillustration only.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. in combination, an elongated, flexible, substantially nonextensible cable, a plurality of spaced spherical members beaded on said cable and fixed thereto at intervals lengthwise thereof, and a plurality of spaced plates arranged in pairs, the plates of each pair having partispherical surfaces, respectively, engaging one of said spherical members, and each plate being grooved from one end thereof to the space between said partispherical surfaces to increase the elasticity of the plate and facilitate flexure thereof as said partispherical surfaces are snapped into engagement with a related spherical member.

2. A cable conveyor comprising an endless cable, a plurality of spheres rigidly attached to and beaded on said cable at predetermined intervals, a plurality oftop plates each having a leading and a trailing edge removably mounted on said spheres, said mounting comprising a pair of bosses formed on the under side of each plate at one edge thereof having opposed laterally spaced apart partispherical surfaces engagin and partially surrounding one of said spheres, and a pair 0 laterally spaced resilient fingers downwardly extending from the opposite edge of each plate having partispherical surfaces snapped over one of said spheres, whereby each plate is mounted on the cable by having the bosses of said plate pressed into engagement with a sphere by pressure of the fingers ofsaid plate against the next succeeding sphere.

3. A cable conveyor comprising an endless cable adapted to be moved axially, a plurality of spheres rigidly attached to and beaded on said cable at predetermined equidistantly spaced locations, a plurality of top plates each having transverse leading and trailing edges each substantially bisected by said cable at one of said sphere locations, and means mounting each plate on the cable comprising a portion of the underside of each plate at each of said locations having a partispherical surface facing outwardly from the adjacent edge of said plate axially of the cable and cooperating with partispherical surfaces of an identical adjacent plate to embrace the adjacent sphere with freedom for limited universal movement of the plate on the sphere.

4. A combination according to claim 3 in which said mounting means is formed of resilient material and said partispherical surface portion at one of said edges is snapped over the adjacent sphere.

5. A cable conveyor comprising:

a. an endless cable;

b. a plurality of spheres, fixedly attached to said endless cable and beaded thereon at predetermined intervals;

c. a plurality of top plates, having leading and trailing edges,

removably mounted on said spheres, said mounting comprising;

l. a pair of cylindrical portions formed on the bottom of said top plate and adapted to partially surround and receive one of said spheres;

2. a pair of downwardly extending resilient fingers, formed on the bottom of said top plate and opposite to said cylindrical portions and snapped over the next succeeding sphere and partially surrounding it; and

d. at least one sprocket wheel, associated with said endless cable, each sprocket wheel having teeth engageable with said cylindrical portions and having a groove formed around the periphery thereof intersecting said teeth for receiving said cable, said groove serving to eliminate chordal action of said cable. 

1. In combination, an elongated, flexible, subStantially nonextensible cable, a plurality of spaced spherical members beaded on said cable and fixed thereto at intervals lengthwise thereof, and a plurality of spaced plates arranged in pairs, the plates of each pair having partispherical surfaces, respectively, engaging one of said spherical members, and each plate being grooved from one end thereof to the space between said partispherical surfaces to increase the elasticity of the plate and facilitate flexure thereof as said partispherical surfaces are snapped into engagement with a related spherical member.
 2. A cable conveyor comprising an endless cable, a plurality of spheres rigidly attached to and beaded on said cable at predetermined intervals, a plurality of top plates each having a leading and a trailing edge removably mounted on said spheres, said mounting comprising a pair of bosses formed on the under side of each plate at one edge thereof having opposed laterally spaced apart partispherical surfaces engaging and partially surrounding one of said spheres, and a pair of laterally spaced resilient fingers downwardly extending from the opposite edge of each plate having partispherical surfaces snapped over one of said spheres, whereby each plate is mounted on the cable by having the bosses of said plate pressed into engagement with a sphere by pressure of the fingers of said plate against the next succeeding sphere.
 2. a pair of downwardly extending resilient fingers, formed on the bottom of said top plate and opposite to said cylindrical portions and snapped over the next succeeding sphere and partially surrounding it; and d. at least one sprocket wheel, associated with said endless cable, each sprocket wheel having teeth engageable with said cylindrical portions and having a groove formed around the periphery thereof intersecting said teeth for receiving said cable, said groove serving to eliminate chordal action of said cable.
 3. A cable conveyor comprising an endless cable adapted to be moved axially, a plurality of spheres rigidly attached to and beaded on said cable at predetermined equidistantly spaced locations, a plurality of top plates each having transverse leading and trailing edges each substantially bisected by said cable at one of said sphere locations, and means mounting each plate on the cable comprising a portion of the underside of each plate at each of said locations having a partispherical surface facing outwardly from the adjacent edge of said plate axially of the cable and cooperating with partispherical surfaces of an identical adjacent plate to embrace the adjacent sphere with freedom for limited universal movement of the plate on the sphere.
 4. A combination according to claim 3 in which said mounting means is formed of resilient material and said partispherical surface portion at one of said edges is snapped over the adjacent sphere.
 5. A cable conveyor comprising: a. an endless cable; b. a plurality of spheres, fixedly attached to said endless cable and beaded thereon at predetermined intervals; c. a plurality of top plates, having leading and trailing edges, removably mounted on said spheres, said mounting comprising; 